Non-Residential or Commuter Students

Non-residential or commuter students live off campus in non-Columbia owned apartment buildings, fraternity or sorority buildings, or with their families. Moving off-campus will result in the loss of guaranteed housing status unless the student is in their first year and has received approval from Residential Life to commute. 

Commuter Students

In rare cases, first-year students are approved to commute to Columbia from the home of a parent or guardian. The approval process is managed by Residential Life and applies only to first-year students. Commuter first-year students may enter Columbia Housing in their second year without forfeiting their guarantee of residence, provided that they register for Room Selection by the deadline during the spring semester of their first year. Failure to register for Room Selection may result in the loss of guaranteed housing status. 

Upperclassman who choose to commute from the home of a parent of guardian do not have to seek approval from Residential Life; however, they will lose their guaranteed housing status.

Non-Residential Students

Students that move from the residence halls to off-campus housing, a non-Columbia-owned fraternity or sorority building or to the student’s family’s home at any point will lose guaranteed housing status.